Retrobottega
Italian restaurant · Adams Morgan
2435 18th St NW, Washington, DC 20009
Highlights
Italian small plates, wine & cocktails in vintage surrounds
Italian small plates, wine & cocktails in vintage surrounds
"Adams Morgan has a number of good Italian restaurants, but Retrobottega is the best. Cozy up in the restaurant’s snug dining nook where you can impress your date with front-row seats into the open kitchen. And if you really want to show off, order the charred octopus as an appetizer—it’s got this incredible smoky flavor—and the oxtail lasagna because it’s oxtail lasagna (and also really good). That way, even if your date turns out to be a bit of a dud, at least you've scored yourself a fabulous meal. We call that self-love." - omnia saed, allison robicelli, mekita rivas
"Recommended as a neighborhood bar by longtime local guide Annie Ojile, who says, "Every Italian has their neighborhood bar, and [this one] is mine." Ojile notes a personal preference for cold coffee in summer and specifically mentions falling in love with espresso tonic—"espresso on ice with tonic water. It’s fabulous and refreshing." Expect a local, everyday coffee-bar atmosphere where cold-coffee innovations are part of the draw." - Laura Itzkowitz Laura Itzkowitz Laura Itzkowitz is a writer and editor based in Rome. She has been contributing to Travel + Leisure since 2014, when she started as a fact checker before becoming a contributing digital editor in 2015. She has also held positions as a contributing editor at The Points Guy and the NYC cities editor at DuJour Magazine. In addition to Travel + Leisure, her writing has appeared in Architectural Digest, Surface Magazine, Brooklyn Magazine, T Magazine, The Wall Street Journal, Vogue, GQ, Departures, Afar, Fodor's, Town & Country, Condé Nast Traveler, Robb Report, Hemispheres, and others. When she's not jetsetting around Italy and beyond, she can be found in Rome, enjoying some cacio e pepe or relaxing at home with her husband and two dogs. Originally from the Boston area, Laura moved to New York City in 2011 to pursue a master's degree in creative writing and translation at Columbia University. She also holds a bachelor's degree in French from Smith College. * 10+ years of experience writing and editing * Co-wrote "New York: Hidden Bars & Restaurants," an award-winning guide to New York City's speakeasy scene published by Jonglez Editions in 2015 * Contributed to "Fodor's Brooklyn," published by Penguin Random House in 2015, which won silver in the Lowell Thomas Travel Journalism competition * Contributed an essay to "Epic Hikes of Europe," published by Lonely Planet in 2021 * Updated the 2022 edition of "Fodor's Essential Italy" Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines
"If your Italian needs are a little fancier, hit up Retrobottega. Cozy up in the restaurant’s snug dining nook where you can impress your date with front-row seats into the open kitchen. And if you really want to show off, order the charred octopus as an appetizer—it’s got this incredible smoky flavor—and the oxtail lasagna because it’s oxtail lasagna (and also really good)." - omnia saed, mekita rivas
"Adams Morgan has a number of good Italian restaurants, but Retrobottega is the best. Cozy up in the restaurant’s snug dining nook where you can impress your date with front-row seats into the open kitchen. And if you really want to show off, order the charred octopus as an appetizer—it’s got this incredible smoky flavor—and the oxtail lasagna because it’s oxtail lasagna (and also really good). That way, even if your date turns out to be a bit of a dud, at least you've scored yourself a fabulous meal. We call that self-love." - Omnia Saed
"When the days get hot, this Italian small plates bar is ready to cool off Adams Morgan crowds with a negroni slushee, blended with gin, Campari, sweet vermouth and grapefruit juice." - Travis Mitchell
